The Big Game
Posted by Fred Jandt
Editor, Mass Transit
It’s that time of year again. According to my unofficial calendar, we’re entering the fifth season of the year — football season! (Of course, growing up in the Midwest, my dad always said the fifth season was “construction season.”)
I’m a big pro football fan. Growing up in my family, it was root for the Packers or leave the room … either of which was easy to do up until the 90s. We didn’t get to a lot of Packer games, though. Traveling to historic Lambeau Field was a lengthy trip. But I’ve made the voyage on more than one occasion.
These days getting to the “Big Game” is getting easier. In the last week or two I’ve received emails from several agencies touting their bus and rail services to games. And it’s not just football, CATS in Charlotte, host to this year’s Annual Meeting, has regular service to NASCAR events.
And the best part about these events is not only that they can offer added money to an agency because they are extra service, but special routes like this do not have to be at standard fare prices. CATS charges $20 a pop for their rides to the NASCAR races. And the service has done remarkably well for them.
And what better way to keep inebriated fans off streets than offering them a ride home. That’s a win/win for everyone involved.
Thanks for reading the MT Position, updated every Friday.
August 17th, 2007 at 10:14 am
I’m an Illinois resident, and a St. Louis Cardinals, St. Louis Rams, and St. Louis Blues fan. Parking on the Illinois side and riding the Metro-Link light rail system operated by Bi-State Transit to within steps of the three stadiums is GREAT. No traffic hassels, no parking problems (not to mention the COST of parking). Like you said, it’s a win-win. (As a transportation professional with an 80 mile drive after I leave the parking lot on the Illinois side, I don’t leave the games “under the influence,” but there are many who do, so I’m pleased that Bi-State transit operates the trains and “Red Bird Express” buses to keep these people out of their cars and off the road!).
August 17th, 2007 at 10:52 am
A few years ago Everett built an event center, primarily for minor league hockey, in the heart of downtown, without a big parking structure to go with it. We could do this because the regional transit station and park and ride is just a few blocks east of the center and the event center is served by several bus routes also serving the transit center. It was a good decision. We boosted boardings and transit has helped manage event center traffic. Since Everett Tranist is a municipal system the City could make a decision that relied on a long-term transit committment.
August 17th, 2007 at 7:15 pm
Scranton, PA puts historic trolleys—though not part of a transit authority—to work bringing patrons to its minor league baseball stadium.
http://www.robertjohndavis.com/aott/